Thirteen verses of courage and confidence, grouped by what the writer was facing at the time.
The word courage appears only twice in the psalms in the World English Bible, at 27:14 and 31:24, and both say the same thing: be strong, and let your heart take courage. The rest of the psalms show courage rather than name it. A writer surrounded by tens of thousands says he will not be afraid. Another is not afraid of evil news. The courage always rests on something outside the person: the LORD, his name, his presence.
The picks are grouped: be strong and take courage, courage when you are outnumbered, courage for bad news and hard days, and psalms of confidence. Each shows the World English Bible text and a short note. Tick any and print them as one sheet.
The two verses that use the word, and two that show strength and courage in action.
Wait for the LORD.Be strong, and let your heart take courage.Yes, wait for the LORD.
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Courage is framed by waiting: wait for the LORD comes before and after be strong. The courage asked for is patient, not rash.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage,all you who hope in the LORD.
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
The last line of Psalm 31, addressed to all who hope in the LORD. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, spoken to a group rather than one person.
Through God we will do valiantly,for it is he who will tread down our adversaries.
Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Through God we will do valiantly. Psalm 60 opens with God, you have rejected us, so this courage comes after a defeat, not before a win.
For by you, I advance through a troop.By my God, I leap over a wall.
For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.
Advancing through a troop and leaping over a wall. The verse credits both to God: by you, by my God.
For facing more than you can handle, whether people or circumstances.
I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of peoplewho have set themselves against me on every side.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
Tens of thousands set against me on every side. The heading attributes the psalm to David when he fled from his son Absalom, and the verse still says I will not be afraid.
Though an army should encamp against me,my heart shall not fear.Though war should rise against me,even then I will be confident.
Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
An army and a war are imagined in advance. The verse decides beforehand: even then I will be confident.
In the LORD, I take refuge.How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”?
In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
Someone gives the advice to run: flee as a bird to your mountain. The psalm refuses, because refuge is already found in the LORD.
Courage for news you dread and days you would rather avoid.
He will not be afraid of evil news.His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
He will not be afraid of evil news. The reason is a steadfast heart, trusting in the LORD, rather than good news arriving.
My heart is steadfast, God.My heart is steadfast.I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.
My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
My heart is steadfast, said twice. The heading attributes the psalm to David in the cave while fleeing from Saul, and the verse moves straight into singing.
I will not die, but live,and declare the LORD’s works.
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.
I will not die, but live, and declare the LORD's works. The next verse admits the LORD has punished the writer severely, so this is courage spoken from inside hardship.
Confidence in the psalms is always placed somewhere. These verses say where, and where not.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses,but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
The verse lists what others rely on, chariots and horses, and sets the name of the LORD our God against them.
For I will not trust in my bow,neither will my sword save me.
For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
A refusal to trust in my bow or my sword. Confidence is taken off the writer's own weapons.
I have put my trust in God.I will not be afraid.What can man do to me?
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. The question that follows, what can man do to me, is confidence put as a question.
Psalm 27 and Psalm 31 are the two that use the word, both in their last verse: be strong, and let your heart take courage. Psalm 3 and Psalm 112 show courage without naming it.
The King James Version reads Psalm 27:14 as be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart, and Psalm 31:24 uses the same phrase. The World English Bible says let your heart take courage.
Psalm 31:24 and Psalm 27:14 both put be strong next to take courage. Psalm 18:29 shows both in action: by my God, I leap over a wall.
This page uses the phrase for verses that say where confidence is placed, such as Psalm 27:3, Psalm 20:7 and Psalm 56:11. Psalm 118:8 says it is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Psalm 112:7 speaks of not being afraid of evil news, and Psalm 57:7 says my heart is steadfast twice before the writer starts to sing.
Psalms About StrengthPsalms for FearPsalms of EncouragementPsalms About Faith and TrustPsalm Verses for ProtectionPsalms of Victory